Pope Silverius

Young St John the Baptist in Glory with St Catherine of Alexandria and Pope Silverius (

Feast day of Saint Silverius, Ponza. June 20, 2008

Pope Silverius was the head of the Roman Catholic Church and the ruler of the Papal States from 8 June 536 until his deposition in March 537. He is recognized as a saint in the Catholic Church, with his feast day celebrated on 20 June. His papacy occurred during a turbulent period in the history of the church, marked by the Gothic War (535–554) and the complex political circumstances of the time.

Early Life

Little is known about the early life of Silverius. He was the son of Pope Hormisdas, who led the church from 514 to 523. Unlike his father, Silverius was not born into the clergy; he was a subdeacon before his election to the papacy.

Papacy

Silverius was elected pope in 536, during a time when the Byzantine Empire was attempting to reassert control over Italy, then under the rule of the Ostrogoths. His election was largely influenced by the King of the Ostrogoths, Theodahad, as the Ostrogoths sought to maintain their influence in Rome against the advancing Byzantine forces led by General Belisarius.

Shortly after his election, Silverius faced challenges from the Byzantine Empire. Empress Theodora sought to promote the Monophysite doctrine in Italy, a belief that was in opposition to the teachings of the Roman Church. Silverius, however, remained firm in his support for the Chalcedonian Creed, which had defined the dual nature of Christ at the Council of Chalcedon in 451.

Deposition and Exile

The conflict with the Byzantine Empire led to Silverius's downfall. In 537, he was accused of treasonous correspondence with the Gothic king, Witiges, who was then besieging Rome. Belisarius arrested Silverius, and under pressure, he was deposed and exiled to the East. Silverius was sent to Patara in Lycia (present-day Turkey). However, following an appeal to the Emperor Justinian and the intervention of the Bishop of Patara, Silverius was allowed to return to Italy. Unfortunately, he was intercepted before reaching Rome and was exiled to the island of Palmaria, where he died on 2 December 537.

Legacy

Pope Silverius is venerated as a martyr by the Catholic Church due to the circumstances of his deposition and death. His steadfastness in the face of pressure from the Byzantine Empire and his defense of the Chalcedonian Creed are remembered as key aspects of his papacy. Despite the political turmoil that marked his tenure, Silverius's commitment to the church's teachings and his eventual martyrdom have been sources of inspiration for Catholics.

Veneration

Saint Silverius's feast day is celebrated on 20 June. He is considered a patron saint of prisoners, reflecting his own experiences of imprisonment and exile.

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